New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-23
he StoYof a Crime.

was asked the other day how many
cases | had known, in my long expe-
rience as a detective, of innocent people
being convicted and punished for the
crimes Of othersP My answer was:
"Only one, " and the case is we'll worth
relating and reading.
I began my detective career in Cana
da. and IN locality where justice made
swift work of evil-doers. I had been
three years in the business, and had
done some very fair work, when very
sensational case was put into my hands.
Three miles from the city of B
lived a retired merchant named Graf
ton. He had a fine mansion, elegant
grounds and plenty of money. but his
wife was an insane patient in his own
house, and the only child. boy Of 10,
was half idiot. Grafton was silent
partner in several concerns in the city,
but spent four-ffths of his time at
home. His wife was never seen, while
the young man lived more like wild
animal than human being, the greater
part of his time being spent in the
woods and fields, no matter what the
, weather. Grafton had as coachman,
gardener, and hired man German
about IS years of age, who had been in
the country about five years when I first
saw him at the house. There were
three female servants, and one of them
was q girl IS years of age named Jen-
nie Price, whose mother was very re-
spectacle widow in the city. This girl
was allowed to 60 home every other
Saturday, and always rode in with
Fritz, the coachman, as he went to
market, ran home for an hour two, and
then returned by the same vehicle. It
was reported that Fritz was in love
with and jealous of her. Will Grafton,
the half idiot, had also taken s.shine''
TO her, but his attentions were laughed
to scorn by the pretty Jennie and her
companions.
Now, then, in the afternoon of GER
tain 14th of July several weighty in
cidents occurred. Fritz received let
ter with foreign postmark, and was
very much excited. He was seen run
uing to the barn with the letter IN his
hand, and, ten minutes later, was
heard shouting and storming to himself
as if greatly enraged and excited. The
servants said to each other that he
must have received bad news, but none
Of them went to investigate and con-
sole him.
1t was Jennie's day to 60 home, but
Grafton was indisposed. Fritz sud-
, denly disappeared, and Will was not al
lowed to drive the horses. The girl,
therefore, decided to set out on foot,
and take her chances of getting lift
7 Oh the road. She left at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, and was to return by
> noon next day. Saturday night it was
discovered that Fritz had left the house
and locality, not even asking for his
8 wages, while Will had set off on one oi
his erratlc excursions, having been seen
:, by the cook to pack up some pro.
visions.
Jennie did not return on Sunday OF
a Monday or Tuesday, and Orator
J. drove into town on Wednesday ane
l sent message to her house. She hae
> not been home, and an investigation re-
= vealed the fact that nome of her friend.
a had seen her for two weeks. It was 6
case of mysterious disappearance, >
and [ came into it having little doub
That it would turn out like the majorit,
Of such cases. However, when I hat
. learned that the girl was steady a
y, we'll as handsome, and that every bod,
had perfect confidence in her prlnci
pies, went to the Grafton mansion t.
begin my search there. This was OF
. Thursday morning, and it now seeme
u pretty plain that some calamity had be
d fallen the girl In an shour I learne
=, all the Incidents related above. Graf
e ton was very anxious in the matter
g. telling me to spare no expense, bu
e when 1 began to question Will, tn
t, young man turned on his heel an
I walked of, rs if deaf and dumb.
.. however, had a chance to look owe
t. him for couple .of minutes, and
e made a note of several things. A but
4 ton had been torn .off his coat wit
II such force as to tear the cloth. II
=. - had two scratches on the right chez
>, and one ON the ripht hand Ono fir
i. ger of the left hand was tied up in
% rag, and the cook. who tied it up fc
% him, told me that something had bite
= him severely.
1t was aquarter of a NILE from tn
house to the highway, with a carriag
road running straight from the from
cs door. This road was taken by any {
d, the servants who were going to tow
e Il II ~